Shelf for refrigerators and the like.



G. COLLIS. SHELF FOR REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. m2.

' Patented July 4, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE COLLIS, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLLIS COMPANY, OF

DUBUQUE, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

SHELF FOR REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE CoLLrs, acitizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shelves for Refrigerators and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to shelving for refrigerators, stoves, and the like.

The object of the invention is, in an economical manner, to produce a metallic shelf of simple form and having, as an important characteristic, an article-supporting surface which is relatively fiat in order that dishes or the like may be set thereon without the liability of their being upset.

In a common form of metallic shelf (fabricated from wire, rods, bars, or the like) the upper or supporting surface is uneven, irregular and, in some instances,

composed of strands of rounded form.

With such a structure, a dish which is placed thereon has no extended fiat surface upon which to be free from the danger of tipping over.

It is the desideratum' of the present invention to present a surface on which a dish or the like may be firmly mounted.

To this end, the invention, in one aspect, resides in a shelf composed of a plurality of elements or strips of metal having at least their upper surface approximately flat, said strips being arranged at an angle (preferably at right angles) to each other; each strip being pro vided with a series of depressions of a width and form well adapted to receive and hold cross strips; the upper surfaces of the several strips occupying substantially the same horizontal plane.

In another aspect of the invention, it includes a frame, preferably square or rectangular, to the side-members of which the interlaced strips are suitably secured.

In still another aspect of the invention, the invention resides in a series of elements or strips each having at least one substantially flat upper surface provided with a series of elongated depressions, another series of strips of substantially the same form and character as the first-mentioned strips; the strips of the one series being interlaced with those of the other series and all so arranged relatively as to present a substantially flat article-supporting surface; both of said series of strips, in their interlaced form, being securely attached to each other and to a frame.

The ihvention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms; but, in the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment which clearly exemplifies the principles involved and which would be substantially retained in any other of the possible embodiments.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the shelf; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, one of the sidemembers ofthe frame being broken away; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of one of the strips.

In these drawings, the reference-character 1 designates a frame which, in this instance, is shown as substantially square, and as composed of a single round or other shape bar or rod bent at four places to form round corners and having its abutting ends welded or otherwise secured together in order to form an integral structure. Welded'or otherwise attached to the opposite side-members of this frame is a series of elements or strips 2, which, preferably and as shown, have at least their upper surfaces approximately fiat. Similarly attached to the other side-members is a second series of elements or strips 3, of similar form, dimension and characteristics.

Each strip of each of the series is, prefer ably and as shown, formed with a series of equidistantly-spaced elongated depressions 4 and 5, respectively, of a depth, width and form to receive a strip of the cross-series. As will beseen, these series are interlaced; that is to say, each strip overlies and underlies, alternately, each of the cross-strips; and by reason of the depressions therein and of their form and dimensions, all of the strips, of both series, are in substantially the same horizontal plane. At the points of intersection and interlacing of the strips, they are preferably welded together. Hence the strips, thus permanently secured together, become an integral structure forming one component of my improvement. The other component is'the frame and, as the stripformed structure is permanently secured to said frame, the two components become a single integral article-supporting shelf having the essential characteristic of presenting, on its supporting side, an approximately flat surface composed of two series of interlaced strips. By reason of the fact that the ends of the strips and cross-strips are provided with hooked ends 6, their securement to the frames is facilitated.

In constructing the frame, one series of the strips (previously formed with the depressions) is secured to their respective sides of the frame. Then each strip of the other series is woven with the strips thus secured, one end being first hooked or bent around its side-bar of the frame and the opposite end, having thus been interwoven with the several strips arranged at right angles thereto, is secured to the opposite side-bar. In any suitable manner, the strips, thus interwoven, are welded or soldered to each other and to the frame.

It is a feature of my invention that each element or strip is provided with a series of depressions which are elongated to form a substantially flat strip-engaging surface and with end-walls angulated to the surface of the strip and to the strip-engaging surface. "When each of these strips is interwoven with a series of other similarly-formed strips, the fabricated structure thus presented is, when attached to the frame aforementioned, complete in itself. I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to interlace two series of strips; but in this instance, locking-bars have to be provided; and to this end the strips are provided with Ushaped depressions in their upper surface and with similarly formed recesses in their under surfaces. In consequence, the strips have practically no extended surface. On the-contrary, the surface is so interrupted and irregular that the structure is as objectionable as the common form of shelves now on the market for refrigerators. In my fabricated structure, on the contrary, each. strip presents an extended and unbroken surface of a length equal to the distance between three of the cross-strips and, even where it is formed with depressions, the strips which fit therein practically fill the depression, where fore, from end to end, each strip presents practically an uninterrupted surface, and these several surfaces, together, provide a broad and substantially flat supportingarea, upon which articles may be placed without danger of tipping over, as now frequently occurs where the strips are not interlaced and where they have a rounded or non-fiat surface.

While I have herein set forth my invention with considerable detail, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such details except in so far as such details are specified in the claims.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A shelf for refrigerators, stoves and the like, including a fabricated structure comprising a plurality of interwoven and crossed metallic strips, each formed with approximately flat portions, and with spacedapart offset portions in one side only of the strips, such offsets being of a depth and width corresponding to the thickness and Width, respectively, of the strips which are seated therein; the approximately fiat portions of each strip occupying a position in the offset portions in the other strips and with alternate portions of each strip overlying and underlying portions of other of the strips, whereby the surfaces of all of the strips on opposite sides of the offset portions lie in the same horizontal plane with correspond ing portions of the cross-strips, the ofiset portions occupying a horizontal plane, on one side of the structure, below the plane of the flat portions, so that said structure presents a substantially flat surface on one side at least. i

2. A shelf for refrigerators, stoves and the like, including a fabricated structure comprising a series of metallic strips and a se' ries of metallic cross-strips, each strip being formed with approximately fiat portions, and with spaced-apart, elongated offset portions in one side only of the strips, such olfsets being of a depth and width corresponding to the thickness and width, respectively, of the cross-strips; the approximately flat portions of each strip intersecting and being seated in the ofi'set portions of the other strips and alternate portions of each strip overlying and underlying portions of other of the strips, the surfaces of all of the strips, on opposite sides of the oifset-portions, lying in the same horizontal plane with corresponding portions of the cross-strips, the offset portions occupying a horizontal plane below that of the fiatporti0ns, so that the structure presents a substantially fiat surface on at least one side throughout the entire area of that side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE CQLLIS.

l Vitnesses GEORGE SKELToN, W. C. MINARD. 

